Hi, I'm Victor, I'm a newbie I have some doubt on EU policy of transient and permanent stay. Technically, I'm a non-EU but holding an EU ID card and a Swiss B. I'm wondering do I need a visa or a passport when travel inside the schengen zones? I know it's up to 90 days, what happen after this limitation? Should I go back to my country and apply a new visa if I intend to stay more than 90 days?

Btw has anyone encountered this: once I called service de la population et d'immigration Geneve. They told me I'm not permitted to stay?! I'm perplexed... I've been living Geneva for 2 years and never heard of that. Also every time I bump into passport controllers at ZRH no body really cares about my nationality but just let me in

As for your concern, I got Swiss B for a five-year-contract, but I don't constantly stay in Geneva, and I applied with my non-EU passport and an EU ID card, although the authorities do question me about why I have 2 permits, I told them about my special condition so yeah it took 2 weeks for that. Now I want to travel for a year so I'm thinking Swiss B is useless for me now probably gonna cancel sooner or later. EU ID is a permanent resident permit of a schengen country.

As for your concern, I got Swiss B for a five-year-contract, but I don't constantly stay in Geneva, and I applied with my non-EU passport and an EU ID card, although the authorities do question me about why I have 2 permits, I told them about my special condition so yeah it took 2 weeks for that. Now I want to travel for a year so I'm thinking Swiss B is useless for me now probably gonna cancel sooner or later. EU ID is a permanent resident permit of a schengen country.

Unfortunately the Geneva office is correct. You see you, as a non-EU national, can't apply for a Swiss residence permit with an EU ID card.

"I am a citizen of a non-EU/EFTA state in possession of an unlimited residence permit valid for an EU/EFTA state. Do I need visa to work in Switzerland?

Whether or not you possess a residence permit valid for an EU/EFTA state does not affect your status in Switzerland. You are subject to the same provisions on entry and work as people who enter Switzerland from a third state. As a rule, you will need to apply for an entry visa, which will be issued by the Swiss diplomatic representation abroad as soon as you have been granted a work permit."

Only if the Swiss authorities approved the permit application would you be allowed to move here. You would also need a Type D visa from the Swiss embassy/consulate where you hold permanent residency to be able to enter Switzerland for longer than 90 days. Switzerland is not part of the EU and doesn't have the same movement agreements.

And no, you have no special condition. You either live here legally or you don't. From the sounds of it technically you're not. And I'm not sure you EU ID card is valid any more either, if you've been living outside of the country that issued it. I know it's supposed to be valid for 10 years, but presumably that assumes you're living in the issuing country during that time. If you've been out of the country for some time, then it may have become invalid. In Switzerland with your B permit that limit is 6 months. So I'd check ASAP what the situation is with your EU ID card as it may be invalid too. Until you can confirm it's still valid any travel plans will have to be on hold.

This user would like to thank Medea Fleecestealer for this useful post: